Beacon light



Oct. 19, 1943. A. KOST 2,332,383

BEACON LIGHT Filed Feb. 17, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l I NV EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 19, 1943. s 2,332,383

BEACON LIGHT Filed Feb. 17, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 29 I '1 H3 H4 30 y 1/? ATTORN.

A. KOST BEACON LIGHT Oct. 19, 1943.

Filed Feb. 17, 1940 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 14/14/117 K 0 s 1 4TTORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1943 BEACON LIGHT Alwin Kost, Portland, reg., assignor to Kost Incorporates], Portland, 0reg., a corporation of Oregon Application February 17, 1940, Serial No. 319,562'

8 Claims.

This invention relates to beacon lights of the flasher type commonly used for aeroplane landing fields air courses, lighthouses, marine beacons and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide an eiflcient beacon light of the flasher type that will provide very frequent flashes of light, that will cover the entire area surrounding the beacon, that will be visible from all points in the area it covers and that will not hav any blind spots.

Another object is to provide a beacon which employs a mechanical movement of the type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,246,689, issued June 24, 1941.

Another object is to provide a beacon comprising a dome carrying a pluralit oflights and connected with mechanism for simultaneously imparting to said dome an oscillatory and a tilting movement whereby a combined horizontal and vertical sweep will be imparted to each beam of light emanating from said dome.

Another object is to provide a beacon having means for changing the color of the beams of light projected therefrom.

Otherobjects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings I Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of one type beacon light apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a reduced scale substantially on broken line 22 of Fig. 1, parts being shown in plan and parts in section taken substantially on broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing means for changing the color of the beacon lights and electrically controlled operating means for these color changing devices.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detached elevation of a part of the color changing device.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view with. parts omitted of another type of beacon light apparatus having means for varying the amplitude of gyratory movement of the lamp portion thereof.

Fig. 7 is a view in cross section taken through the yoke 31 and pivot member 38 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a view in cross section taken through the yoke I I6 and pivot iii of Fig. 6.

Lik reference numerals designate parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, I show beacon light apparatus comprising an upright housing formed of an upper section III and a lower section II.

The lower section II is secured to a base l2 by screws l3. The upper section I0 has a conical upper end portion 14. The base I2 and lower housing section I i may be relatively detached to provide access to the interior of the housing section ll- The two housing sections i0 and H are fastened together by a bracket member I5 that is disposed chiefly within the upper housing section and projects downwardly into the lower housing section and is secured to both of said housing sections by screws IS. The bracket l5 forms a support and bearing for certain operating devices, hereinafter described, which are disposed within the housing.

These operating devices are adapted to impart a combined oscillatory and tilting movement to a light carrying dome as hereinafter described.

The bracket l5 provides bearings for an upright tubular shaft ll within which is positioned another shaft l8. The shaft I8 is also preferably tubular to provide a passageway for electrical conductor wires 19.

The tubular shaft ll is fixedly connected with a sleeve 20 so that said sleeve will rotate with the shaft ll. The sleeve 20 has an oblique circular plate portion 2| rigid with the upper nd thereof. The plate portion 2| has a circular flang 22 extending perpendicularly therefrom. An inner bearing race member 23 is supported exteriorly of the flange 22. Ball bearings 24 are operatively positioned between th inner bearing race 23 and an outer bearing race 25. The race 25 is supported within a. cylindrical portion 26 of an inverted cup 21 that is provided centrally within a circular swash plate 28.

The swash plate 28 forms a base to which is secured a semi-spherical dome 29. A plurality of tubular lamp receptacles 30 are provided in the dome 29 and a lamp 3] is provided in each lamp receptacle. The inner end portions 32 of the lamp receptacles 30 are properly shaped and silvered to form light reflectors. Suitable lenses 33 are provided at the outer ends of the lamp receptacles 30. The lenses 33 are suitably shaped to converge the rays of light and form light beams that are visible the maximum distance possible with the intensity of light used. Preferably means, as hereinafter described are provided for positionin light conductive color screens of different colors over the lenses 32. I find that five lamps arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are satisfactory in operation. Obviously a greater or less number of lamps than this may be used. Preferably a fan 34 driven by an electric motor .8 that is built into said fan is provided within the dome 28 for cooling purposes.

The upper end portion or the shaft I8 is positioned substantially centrally within an inverted cup shaped member formed by a downwardly extending cylindrical flange 38 that extends within the flange 22. A yoke 31, see also Fig. '1, is pivotally mounted in the flange 38 andextends diametrically across the same. The upper end portion or the shaft i8 is connected with this yoke by a pivot member 38 positioned at right angles to the axis or the yoke 31. The yoke 31, see also Fig. '7, and pin 38 thus provide a universal joint connection between the shaft I8 and swash plate 28. The sleeve i1 is rotated and serves as a means to tilt the swash plate and impart a wobbling movement thereto. A collar 38 prevents upward movement of sleeve i1. The shaft i8 is oscillated and oscillates the swash plat back and forth simultaneously with its tilting movement.

The means for rotating the sleeve l1 comprises an electric motor 48 having a sheave 4! connected by a belt 42 with another sheave 43 on a shaft 44. A pulley 45 on the shaft 44 is connected by a belt 48 with a sheave 41 on a shaft 48. The shaft 48 has a bevel gear 48 that meshes with another bevel gear 58 on the tubular shaft l1 completing the driving connection thereto. Power for oscillating th shaft I8 is taken of! of the tubular shaft i1. The means for taking oi! this power and converting it into oscillating motion comprises an eccentric member 8i secured on tubular shaft i1 and connected by a combined eccentric yoke and link 82 and pivot 54 with a gearwheel 53. The gearwheel 83 is mounted on a bearing 85 and meshes with another gearwheel 58 that is secured on the shaft i8. Operation of eccentric devices 5| and 82 will impart oscillations to gearwheel 53 and this will oscillate gearwheel 88 and shaft l8.

Figs. 4 and 5 show diagrammatically a control for a device to change the color of the beams of light. The color device comprises a circular band 51 extending around the dome 29 over the four lenses 33 adjacent the swash plate 28. This circular band 51 is movable rotatively and is guided in guide and support means 58. This circular band 51 has openings 58 adapted to register with the lenses 33 in the normal operation of the beacon. Said band 51 also has a section 88 of colored light conductive material adjacent each opening 58, the sections 88 preferably being red. The colored sections 88 may be moved over the lenses 33, and in some instances are so moved to provide colored beams of light for signaling or for use in fog y weather.

The means for moving the circular band 51 may be controlled in different ways. I have illustrated electrically actuated manually operated remote control means. This means, as herein disclosed, comprises a reversible motor 8 i, Fig. 4, having a driving pinion 82 on its shaft 83 that meshes with a gear 84 on the band 51. Current to the motor 8| is supplied from source of supply conductors 85, 88 and 81 that are connected through three pole switch 88 with other conductors 89, 10 and 1|. Switch 88 is moved into a closed position by electromagnet 12 when said electromagnet is energized and is moved by gravity into an open position when electromagnet 12 is not energized. Conductors 89 and 10 are connected with the two switch arms 13 and 14 respectively of a reversing switch. The arms 13 mechanical connection with anothre switch, as

hereinafter described. The two pairs of contact members or the reversing switch are connected by conductors 18 and 11 with the motor II. The third conductor 1i from switch 88 is connected directly with the motor 8 i.

A starting circuit for momentarily energizing the solenoid 12 and putting into operation the motor circuit Just described is provided. This starting circuit comprises a remotely disposed manual control switch 18, having one terminal connected by conductor 18 with one of the source of supply conductors, such as conductor 88 and the other terminal connected by conductor 88 with one terminal of solenoid 12. The other terminal of solenoid 12 is connected by conductor 8i with one of the source of supply conductors 81. A hold-in circuit is provided for solenoid 12. This hold-in circuit comprises a pivotally mounted switch arm 82 operated by the lug 15 of the band 81. The switch arm 82 s mechanically connected by link means 82' with the switch arms 13 and 14 of the reversing switch. Two spaced apart contact members 83 and 84 are provided for engagement by the movable end of contact arm 82 and are electrically connected with each other by conductor 85. A conductor 88 electrically connects the contact members 83 and 84 with the same terminal of solenoid 12 that is connected with the switch 18. Another conductor 88 connects contact arm 82 with conductor 18.

In operation, when the beacon is showing white light the several parts illustrated in Fig. 4, will be in the positions therein shown. If it is desired to show the colored light then the remote control starting switch 18 is momentarily closed manually. The momentary closing of starting switch 18 closes a circuit through solenoid 12 and this closes switch 88. The closing of switch 88 establishes electrical connections to the motor 81 to operate said motor Si in the proper direction to move the color screen carrying member 51 clockwise, Fig. 4, until the color screens are positioned over the lenses 33. As soon as starting switch 68 is closed a hold-in circuit for switch 88 is established from conductor 81 through conductor 8|, solenoid 12, conductors 88 and 85, contact 83, arm 82 and conductor 88' to conductor 10. This allows switch 18 to be immediately opened and insures that the motor 8| will continue to operate until the hold-in circuit to the solenoid 12 is broken. This hold-in circuit will be momentarily broken by engagement of the lug 15 with the switch arm 82 just before the circular band 51 reaches the limit of its clockwise movement. When lug 15 engages switch arm 82 it will move switch arm 82 to the left. This will first momentarily break the hold-in circuit and cause switch 88 to drop open and break the motor circuit due to the disengagement of switch arm 82 from both of the contacts 83 and 84. Immediately thereafter it will re-establlsh the hold-in circuit by moving arm 82 into engagement with contact member 84 as th motor coasts to a stop. At this same time movement of the switch lever 82 will move the reversing switch levers 13 and 14 to reverse the motor connections through this reversing switch so that when the motor circuit is again closed the motor 8i will run in a reverse direction. After the color screens 88 have been P0511 tioned in 'front of the lenses :3, as above scribed, they may be moved back into the position shown in Fig. 4, by momentarily closing the starting switch I8 to run the motor 8I in a reverse direction until the lug I5 engages the switch arm 18 and throws the reversing switch and the hold-in switch and stops the motor.

The manual control starting switch "may be located at any remote point from which the beacon is to be controlled. The color screens may be used in case of fog or as a danger signal or for any other reasons. Obviously the screens 60 may -be red or any other color or color screens of difierent colors may be usedin the same beacon.

The fan 38, shown in Fig. 1, helps to dissipate the heat produced by the lamps 3I by drawing in outside air under the shield and through the openings 8 in the top portion of the housing 29 and forcing said air out through openings 1 in the bottom portion 28 of the housing. The shield 9 helps to exclude moisture from the housing 29 and also directs the air over said housing in such a manner as to keep the housing cool.

The universal tilting movement imparted to the housing 29 will impart a continuous up and down movement to the beams of light from the radial light tubes 30. At the same time the oscillating movement will impart horizontal movement back and forth to these same beams of light and the resultant will be that the beam from each radial tube 30 will follow a curved path which will be determined by the ratio of the gears 53 and 50 and by the amount of movement provided by the eccentric disc This provides very emcient beams that are visible from all positions around the beacon.

The axial tube 30 will direct a beam of light upwardly and this beam will be projected in substantially the shape of a cone. Obviously light tubes 30 may be provided at other angles in the housing if desired.

Fig. 6 shows a form of the invention in which means is provided for adjusting the amplitude of angular movement of the swash plate.

Said Fig. 6 discloses a frame 81 providing bearings for a rotatable tubular shaft 88 within which is disposed an oscillatory shaft 89, also preferably tubular. A driven shaft 90 is connected by gearwheels Ill and 92 with the tubular shaft 88 for rotatively driving the same. An eccentric 93 on the tubular shaft 88 is connected by a combined yoke and link member 94 with a crank pin member 95 on a gearwheel 86. The gearwheel 98 meshes with another gearwheel 91 on the shaft 89 and oscillates said shaft 89.

The tubular shaft 88 is sufliciently larger than the shaft 89 to leave an annular space I00 between these two shafts and a sleeve IN is operatively disposed in this annular space. The shaft 89 oscillates in the sleeve IOI and the sleeve IOI rotates with the tubular shaft 88. The tubular shaft 88 has longitudinal slots I02 in the upper end portion thereof and the sleeve IOI carries a bracket arm I03 and two radial lugs I04 that all project outwardly through the slots I02. The lugs I04 engage with ball bearing means I05 in a bearing cup I08. The bearing cup I08 is mounted on and supported by an upright screw I01 by which said bearing cup is vertically adjusted. A worm wheel I08 is secured to the screw I01 and meshes with a worm I09 on a shaft IIO whereby the screw I01 may be turned.

Any suitable control means. not shown, may be provided for operating the shaft IIO from any desired location.

The bracket arm I08 is connected by a link I II with a bearing cradle II2 within which are ball bearing and race means 3 for providing a rotatable connection with an inverted cup member I I4.

The upper end portion of oscillatory shaft 89 has a universal joint connection with inverted cup member I I4 through pin H5, yoke H8 and flange means I I1.

Bearing cradle I I 2, see Fig. 8, is supported from tubular shaft 88 by forked bearing cradle support II9, on ork of. which is shown in Fig. 6. Forked bearing cradle support H9 is connected with cradle H2 by pivots N8, the pivots II8 being in axial alignment with pin H5 in the position shown in Fig. 6.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the bearing cradle is supported jointly by support II9. pivots II8, link III and sleeve IOI and that the angle of inclination of the cradle II2 relative to shafts 88 and 89 may be adjusted by vertical adjustment of the sleeve IOI. Variation of this angle inclination will vary the amplitude of tilting movement of any light carrying dome means that is secured to inverted cup member Ill.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is .merely illustrative and that changes may be made in the invention within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An illuminated beacon comprising a dome; a plurality of lamps in said dome positioned to project beams of light in different directions from said dome; universal joint bearing means positioned at an incline and movably supporting said dome for universal tilting movement; driving means operatively connected with said dome supporting means for imparting universal tilting movement to the dome; adjusting means connected with said dome supporting means adapted to adjust the incline of said universal joint hearing means whereby the amplitude of tilting movement is adjusted; and dome oscillating means connected with said dome for oscillating said dome simultaneously with the universal tilting movement thereof.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprisinga housing; an upright shaft supported for oscillation in said housing; shaft oscillating means connected with said shaft; a body to be oscillated; universal joint means connecting said body with said oscillatory shaft whereby said body will be oscillated by said shaft; a tubular shaft on said oscillatory shaft; driving means connected with said tubular shaft; and bearing means interconnecting said body and said tubular shaft and inclined relative to said tubular shaft and supporting said body for universal tilting movement.

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a housing; an upright shaft supported for oscillation in said housing; .shaft oscillating means connected with said shaft; 9. body to be oscillated; universal joint means connecting said body with said oscillatory shaft whereby said body will be oscillated by said shaft; a tubular shaft on said oscillatory shaft; driving means connected with said tubular shaft; ball bearing means.

4. An illuminated beacon comprising an upright driven tubular shaft; a bearing member supported on the upper end portion of said shaft in a plane oblique to the axis of the shaft; beacon lamp means supported by said bearing member for universal tilting movement by rotation of said bearing member; and an oscillatory shaft positioned within said tubular shaft and connected with said beacon lamp means for oscillating said beacon lamp means simultaneously with the tilting movement thereof.

5. Apparatus oi the class described, comprising a rotatably driven upright tubular shaft; a bearing member supported on the upper end portion of said shaft in a plane oblique to the axis of the shaft; a body supported by said oblique bearing member for universal tilting movement by rotation of said tubular'shaft and said bearin; member; an oscillatory shaft positioned within said tubular shaft; and connected with said body providing for oscillation of said body simultaneously with the tilting movement thereof.

6. An illuminated beacon comprising an upright driven tubular shaft; a bearing member pivotally mounted on said tubular shaft for angular movement on an axis transverse to the axis of the tubular shaft; means for adjusting said bearing member on its axis; and a lamp dome supported by said bearing member for tilting asaasss' movement by rotation of said bearing member.

7. An illuminated beacon comprising a rotatably driven upright tubular shaft; 9. bearing member pivotally mounted on the upper end.

portion of said tubular shaft for angular adjustment on an axis transverse to the axis of said tubular shaft; means for adjusting said bearing member to vary the angle of inclination of the same relative to said shaft; beacon lamp means supported by said bearing member and arranged to be tilted therewith by rotation of said tubular shaft; and an oscillatory shaft positioned within said tubular shaft and connected with said beacon lamp means for oscillating said beacon lamp means simultaneously with the tilting movement thereof.

8. Appratus of the class described comprising a rotatably driven upright tubular shaft; a hearing member pivotally mounted on the upper end portion of said tubular shaft for angular adjustment on an axis transverse to the axis of said tubular shaft; a vertically movable sleeve within said tubular shaft and rotatable therewith; a link connecting said sleeve with said bearing member; means for vertically adjusting said sleeve to thereby vary the angle of inclination of said bearing member relative to said shaft; a body supported by said bearing member and arranged 'to be tilted therewith by rotation of said tubular shaft; and an oscillatory shaft positioned within said tubular shaft and said sleeve and connected with said body for oscillating said. body simultaneously with the tilting movement thereof.

ALWIN KOST. 

